Authorities today warned members of the public who may
already have the products against smoking them.

The brands were previously assessed by the Ministry of Health
and judged low risk enough to be sold to the public.

But they have now been immediately banned, after reports of
adverse reactions to helplines including that of the National
Poisons Centre.

The Psychoactive Substances Regulatory Authority has
previously withdrawn five other products that were being sold
under interim licences.

Suppliers paid $10,000 to register each product.

The manager of the authority, Dr Donald Hannah, said the ban
was not related to the recent government decision to bring
forward the end of the interim phase of the Psychoactive
Substances Act.

Thirty-six products will remain on sale until parliament
passes emergency legislation next week to remove the
remaining synthetic products which had been given temporary
approval while the testing regime was being developed.